LCS 1, LCS 2 piping, wiring work remain behind target, A-G’s report finds

KUALA LUMPUR, October 6 — As per the Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) 2/2026, piping and wiring work for Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) 1 and 2 continues to lag behind schedule, jeopardizing upcoming construction tasks and the planned physical handover (PHO) for LCS 1. According to the report, as of June 25, piping work on LCS 1 was only 87.70% complete, while LCS 2 stood at 74.73%.

These delays, totaling 12.30 and 25.27 percentage points respectively, were attributed to 4,113 pipe spools needing redesign following new performance requirements and resolving conflicts. Similarly, wiring work for both LCS ships was only 51.41% and 43.49% finished, resulting in delays of 48.59 and 56.51 percentage points. The report attributes these delays to 95 cable tray alterations and 85 penetration adjustments necessitated by design revisions.

The LCA further noted that these setbacks in piping and wiring could impact subsequent construction endeavors and the scheduled PHO for LCS 1. Defence Ministry feedback from July 20 and August 13 revealed that LCS 1 and 2 employ a mix of original and revised pipe designs, whereas LCS 3-5 utilize solely the updated design. The delay was first flagged in November 2025 following a notice from the Design Authority, Naval Group.

As of July 2026, full piping work had been accomplished for LCS 1 and 96% for LCS 2. Despite Mindef's claim that the improvement was due to the contractor's decision to shift to three shifts from January 23, 2024, to expedite completion, the LCS Project Management (PPLCS) was unable to confirm progress as the contractor had not submitted verified reports or evidence by July 2026.

PPLCS can only authenticate progress once work is physically verified and fully documented, ruling out any unverified activity.